His Dark Materials: Language and Representation blog tasks

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language

1) Write an analysis of the episode

The show is a fantasy television series based on fantasy novels. It was produced by BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation - same company who made Doctor Who) and HBO (American company). It is set in a multi-world reality with action moving between worlds. Lyra, the main character, has grown up an orphan who discovers that there is a prophecy that foretells that she will change the world. Will is a fugitive (runaway) from ‘our world’ where he killed someone in self-defence. They meet in a third world called Cittagazze which is run down and neglected. They learn from some kids there that all the adults (and kids when they come of age) are hunted and drained of their energy and basically changed into zombies by evil black clouds called ‘Spectres’. Meanwhile, an evil villain called Mrs Coulter is on board a ship with the Magisterium (male Priests in authority roles - like politicians.) She tortures a witch for information regarding Lyra and mysterious ‘dust’ but the witch is put out of her misery by her fellow witch Ruta Skardi who sets her free by killing her to stop the pain. Skardi also seriously injures the head of the Magisterium and Mrs Coulter offers a deal to his deputy: in exchange for more power and freedom, she will kill the head priest and say he died of his injuries from the witch.



2) How does His Dark Materials fit the conventions of the fantasy TV genre?

-it includes fictional beings that have supernatural abilities.
-the genre is inspired by victorian era industrialism
-they use Levi Strauss's idea of binary opposition


3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do some of the main characters in His Dark Materials fit into? 


- i would say Lyra is the hero
- will is the helper
- Mrs Coulter is the villain


4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in His Dark Materials? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

  • Emotive, often quest-based narratives
  • Political narrative themes or social commentary
  • Iconography including magic, mystical creatures or similar
  • Often set in imagined worlds or time periods 
  • There is a sense of mystery and suspense


5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in His Dark Materials? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience? 

  • Will and lyra - boy vs girl
  • mrs coulter vs lyra -bad vs good /young vs old

representations

1) How are women represented in His Dark Materials? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted? Think about Lyra and Mrs Coulter here.


Many characters in this episode of His Dark Materials subvert stereotypes. Lyra is a strong, independent female character who doesn't need or want help from anyone on her dangerous quest across different worlds. She can't cook, isn't bothered by her appearance and takes what she wants. Mrs Coulter also subverts female stereotypes as a cold hearted villain. She is actually Lyra's mother but displays none of the maternal stereotypes the media usually presents as typically female.


2) How are men and masculinity represented in His Dark Materials? Think about Will and Lee Scoresby here.


Will subverts male or masculine stereotypes. He is kind, welcoming and wants to help Lyra. He cooks her food and makes up beds for them to sleep in. Not all characters subvert stereotypes though - Lee Scoresby is in many ways a classic masculine man on a mission to help Lyra.



3) How is age (e.g. teenagers; adults) represented in His Dark Materials? Does the show reinforce or challenge stereotypes about young people? 


Most of the main characters in this series and episode are children and they are shown not to need adults or help from older people. The abandoned children of Cittàgazze also demonstrate they can live without adults - which subverts typical stereotypes. Mrs Coulter also shows how stereotypes are subverted as a parent who does not care for her child.

4) How is race and ethnicity represented in His Dark Materials? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?


The actors in His Dark Materials are from a range of ethnic and social class backgrounds and the character of Will subverts stereotypes of race and ethnicity as well as gender. However, some stereotypes are reinforced - the abandoned children in Cittàgazze are presented as working class in a very stereotypical way. 



5) What representations of the world can you find in the episode - is it like real life? A fantasy world? Something from the past or future

The show reflects real life by showing the reality of people who do not have people to look after them through will and Lyra . It also subverts real life norms with all the elements of magic as it is not a part of our real life.








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